Lions' Golden Tate hits home run in batting practice with Tigers

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (81) celebrates against the Denver Broncos during the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII. Now with the Lions, Tate took batting practice with the Detroit Tigers on Friday, and hit a home run.
PAUL SANCYA — The Associated Press

DETROIT >> If nothing else, the Detroit Lions might have the best hitting combination at wide receiver.

Two years after current teammate Calvin Johnson hit a home run in batting practice at Comerica Park prior to the Negro League weekend ceremonies, the Lions’ big free-agent acquisition, wideout Golden Tate, swung for the fences before Friday’s game between the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers.

And he got one out.

“Over the right-field wall. Probably 332 (feet), barely over,” said Tate, after checking the wall’s 330-foot sign in the corner. “But it went over.”

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While Johnson did not play baseball after getting some big-league looks in high school, Tate was drafted in the 42nd round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, and played two years of baseball at Notre Dame.

“I mean, the bat’s a little different. I was used aluminum one, and the ball was really flying,” Tate said. “You really have to power the ball, get some backspin on this field with these wooden bats.”

Hitting a home run has to rank up there with catching a touchdown in football, though, right?

“When you connect with with a baseball, and you know right off the bat it’s gone, there’s nothing like it,” Tate said. “I’d say making a great play. You can catch touchdowns all day, but they’re easier. Making a tremendous play — a play people don’t think you can make — is probably the most satisfying.”

Tate signed with the Lions in March, after playing four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, winning Super Bowl XLVIII in February.

He’s eager to get to know his new town, though.

“I don’t know too much about Detroit yet. I hear the fans are tremendous, and they’re ready to win ballgames,” he said. “A player like me, I love performing in front of a crowd that’s going to cheer you on, sellout crowds. So I’m expecting those guys to come out pumped, ready to go. Monday Night Football to start the season off. If that can’t get you up and ready, I don’t know what will. ... We can be as good as we want to be.”

And eager to line up with Johnson — in football, though, not baseball.

“Absolutely. Not only Calvin, but we have a lot of talent,” Tate said. “It starts with coach (Jim) Caldwell, and Joe Lombardi. I think we have some great leaders. And it’s going to come down to the Calvins and the (Matt) Staffords, and the Reggies (Bush), and the Joique Bells, and Pettigrew, guys like that, right on down. So we’re going to keep working hard. We’ve been doing a good job of showing up on time, working hard, and getting it in. And we’re ready to win, and you can tell guys are ready to win, and I think this is the year we’re going to start winning.”